Holder for cups, cans, and similar articles



June 24, 1958 Filed Nov. 29, 1954 H. GRINSPOON 2,840,233

HOLDER FOR CUPS, CANS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 32/ alfa.

i a; M Haruldflrin p l j Q Q 75% June 24, 1958 H. GRINSPOON HOLDER FORCUPS, CANS.- AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed NOV. 29, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 52 6 a a 8 Tl l 5 3 6 i A n 3 I. \II\ a M 1 ufi a M/ 4 a 3 2 3 l/.q.|ullh u 9 3.1L C \u a 7 l 2 P n m V n Harald Erinspnnn fly dz 9m HHI'IIEJune 24, 1958 H. GRINSPOON HOLDER FOR CUPS. CANS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 29. 1954 UUTI m M .TQII/E n.m n ErnUF V n .nnl B E 2 v m5. l K I K. m

June 1958 H. GRINSPOON HOLDER FOR CUPS, CANS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES EiledNov. 29, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Harald [fr IIISPUHII HOLDER FOR CUPS,CANS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES H arold Grinspoon, Springfield, Mass.Application November 29 1954, Serial No. 471,553

9 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) This invention relates to a holder for articlessuch as filled paper food containers of the cup type, and small cans offood or other materials, and pertains more particularly to the type offolding holder made of paperboard or similar material, which can be setup to hold a group of stacked or aligned cups or cans so that they canbe handled as a unit.

The ordinary type of cup in which ice-cream and similar foods are packedis of generally circular shape and has a recessed bottom and topcover,leaving projecting rims around the top and bottom. The toprim, andsometimes the bottom rim, is finishedwith a rolled edge or bead, whichoverhangs the outside of the container wall.

In large self-service markets, there would be a con nited States Patentclients of a particular dish, for example, a package for a spaghettidinner would consist of a can of sauce and,

packages or bags of the dry ingredients, such as uncooked spaghetti andcheese, which are to be combined when the meal is prepared. v I

The general object of this invention is to provide an inexpensiveholder, suitable for the purposes discussed above, having a lockingdevice which engages the rim of a cup or can to lock the articlesecurely in place. Other objects are to produce a holder which, inpartly assembled condition, may be folded flat for shipment and storage,and which can be readily set up and packed by hand, so that it issuitable for use by dairies and small food packing concerns which may ormay not be equipped with automatic packaging machinery. Otheradvantagesof the holder will. be apparent from the description whichfollows: Inthe drawings illustrating the invention:v Fig. 1 is aperspective view of a holder constructed according to the invention;

Fig.2 is a longitudinal cross-section, .somewhat enr Fig. 3 is a planview of the empty holder partly aso larged, of the holder of Fig. 1;

s'embled;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the holder 7 form ofholder,

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal cross-section of a modified formof holder; s

Fig. 7a is a perspect ve view of the holder of, Fig. 7

shown empty;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another modification of the holder;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal cross-section, somewhat enlarged, of'the holderof Fig. 8;

Fig.-10 isa plan view of the empty in partly assembled form;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of another modification of the holder, in partlyassembled form;

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal cross-section, partly broken away, of theholder of Fig. 11 as it would appear when filled;

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal cross-section, partly broken away, of anothermodification of the holder;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the empty holder of Fig. 13 in partlyassembled condition; and

holder of Fig. 8

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the blank from which the ,holder of Fig. 13 ismade.

The form of holder shown in Figs. 1 through 4 is intended for two stacksof paper cups 20 of the usual type having recessed ends and projectingtop and bottom rims 21 and 22. The blank for making the holder is in theform of a strip preferably divided by scored fold lines into a top wall23, side walls 24 and 25, a bottom wall 26 and a joining tab 27. As thefirst step is assem bling the holder, the joining tab, which may becovered with adhesive, is pasted to the free end of side wall 25 to forma'continuous band. The holder when thus assembled appears as in Fig. 3.

A pair of flaps 33 and 34 are cut out of the top wall leaving a centralstrip 35'. Slots 36 and 37 may also be'cut out of the top wall in theregion between the flaps and the edges of the holder. A similar pair offlaps 38 and 39 are cut in thebottom wall 26 leaving an opening 40.

As the holder is intended for tapered articles the top wall 23 is widerthan the bottom wall 26. It is therefore apparent that the dimensiondesignated A between foldlines 30 and 28 will be longer than the sum ofthe dimensions B and C and that the holder will not fold fiat whenassembled as in Fig. 3 if only the usual corner fold lines are used. Forthis reason an extra fold line 32 is provided which is spaced from line30 by one-half the difference between the widths of the top and bottomwalls. When the blank is assembled into a band, line 32 will beequidistant from line 28 in either direction along the band. The bandwill therefore fold flat on lines 32 and 28. V

When the cups are inserted into the holder, the central strap 35 ispressed downward and engages'under the outside of the beads 21a of theupper cups, as shown in Fig. 2. The flaps 33 and 34 are also compresseddown and engage inside the upper rims 21 'of the two uppermost cups. Theflaps, if' scored, will tend to be self-locki as they tend to dropinside the cup rim.

The flaps 38 and 39 are similarly pressed upward inside the bottom rims22 of'the lowermost cups. The cups are thus locked firmly in the holderagainst movement in either direction. One or morepackages ofspoons 41may be inserted through the slots 36 and 37. Preferably, the side wallsare slit part way down from the edges ofstrap 35, to provide a littleextra length for" the strap, and scored along lines 35a and-35b tofacilitate bending the strap down. The strap may also have severalcentral score lines 350 to facilitate the downward 0 ward against thetop rims, of the lower cups, giving the unit a smoother, moresymmetrical appearance. The

strap, while providing a tight lock for thecups also Patented June 24,1958 a i a separates them, giving the enclosed product an appearance ofgreater bulk. The whole group is thus held together as a unit which canbe conveniently and economically handled and sold as a single package,and the units can be stacked firmly one on top of the other. The form ofholder shown in Figs. '5; and 6 is very similar to that shown in Figs lthrough 4 except that the flaps 42 and 43 of the top: wall 44 are cutwith projecting tabs or teeth 45 and 46, respectively. The centralstrap\47 will have notches corresponding to the teeth 45 and 46 andintervening tab portions 43 in the spaces between the teeth. When theflaps are inserted the tabs 45 and .46 are jammed against the inside ofthe cup. rim and tend to bend upward, as shown in Fig. 6 Figs.; andY6alsoillustrate an important feature which may be employed to equaladvantage in connection with plain flaps such as flaps 38 and 39 ofFigs; 1-4. Flap 43 has a hinge line 49 along its base and a second hingeline 50 spaced further outward along the flap, leaving anintermediate'portion 51. When the flap is inserted in the. cup rim theflap is bent downward along line 49 andoutward along line 50 so that theintermediate portion Slextends downward toward the top of the cupand theremaining part of the flap lies substantially flat against the top.Furthermore, theside margins 51a and 51b are cut on a radius greaterthan that of the inside of the cup rim, so that the intermediate portion.51 is wider, in

the direction transverse to the fiap than the inside of a down. If thecup; is pulled toward the open end of the holder, the intermediateportion of the flap is driven into an increasingly narrow space insidethe cup rim, and this wedging action tends to jam the intermediate:portion more tightly inside the rim and hold the remainder of flaps willdrop down more readily inside the rims of the uppermost cups. If thecurved side edges of the flaps fit fairly tight inside the rims, and theareas of contact between the flaps and the rims extend inward beyond thecenter of the cups, it is apparent that the flaps will lock the cupsagainst removal in outward direction even though the tips of the flapsare cut off.

The modification shown in Fig. 7 is intended for a combination package,for example, for combining a single can of sauce with the dryingredients for making a spaghetti dish; The can 53 which has recessedends surrounded by the usual beads 54 and 55 is placed across 1 the openend of a box-like carton 56. This carton is The can is thus securelyheld in place across the open the flap more tightly against the cupcover; Flap .42.is

constructed in the samemanner as. flap 43, and theholder has a similarpair of flaps; on the bottom which, engage" inside the bottom rim ofthe, cups.

The holder shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 is suitable for packaging twostacks of paper cups. This holder consists of a continuous band dividedby fold lines into a top wall 65, side walls 66 and 67, and a bottomwall 68.

A pair of flaps- 69 and 70 are connected to the ends of the top wall.The top wall also has openings 71 and 72 with curved edges suitable forclearing the ends .of the flaps when the latter are bent inward. Betweenthese openings is a central strap portion, 73. To till the holder,

as shown in Fig. 9, the strap portion 73 is pushed down the top of theholder and have, their ends tucked under the margins of thetop strap toeither side of'the openings 71 and 72. The spoons which may be insertedbefore or after the cups, are thus securely held and assist in lockingdown the flaps 69 and 70 so that the whole assembly is tightly heldtogether.

Due to inaccuracies or manufacturing tolerances the diameter of .theflaps 69 and 70 may turn out to be slightly greater than the insidediameter of the openings 71 and: 72. If these flaps are cut off shortenough so end of the box and serves as a closure for the box so that theremainder of the box may be used to contain dry ingredient packages, forexample, in a bag 63.

The holder shown in Figs. 11 and 12 is designed for holding two stacksof tapered cups in slightly tilted arrangement. This holder alsoconsists of a continuous band having a top wall 78,. side walls 79 and80, and a bottom wall v81. A pair of flaps 82 and 83 are cut out of thetop wall, leaving a central strap portion 88. Flap 82 has two scorelines 84 and 85, and, between these score lines the flap is. cut to alarger radius than that of the cup rim, so that the margins 82a of thisarea tend to jam inside the rim,..as shown in Fig. 12; Flap 83,similarly, has scorelines 86 and 87 and margins 83a which tend to jaminside of the cup rim.

As the cups are tilted, when placed in this holder, the bottom edges ofthe two stacks touch each'other, so that the bottoms are held againstinward displacement. The middle strap 88 locks under the upper rims ofthe cups and holds the upper part of the top cups tightly locked in theinward direction. In this holder, as well as in other modifications,adjacent pairs of flaps 100'and 101 and 105 and 106, on either side of aslit, may be cut in: one of the side walls to allow for insertion ofspoons. After the spoons are inserted,tthese flaps spring back and closethe opening so that the spoons cannot drop out.

A second pairof flaps 107 and 108, similar to flaps 69 and 70 in Fig.l0; for example, but somewhat shorter may be provided along the freeedges of top wall 78 and maybe bent downins'ide the top rims of the cupsto block the space underflaps 82 and 83, and thus prevent anyone fromreaching under the band with his fingers to loosen portions 82a or 83aby pushing those portions up.

Another feature 'of this modification, which may be applied to otherversions of the holder, is that the side that when they are forcedupwardduring insertion of e the cups they do not interfere with strap 73,particularly at slits 73, this enables the strap to fit more readilyunder the outside rims of the uppermost cups and the wall 79 is cut awaynear its upper edge along the dotted line 7%, so that the slits 82b gothrough only one thickness of paper at this point. The overlapping tab104 may be cut on the same contour, so as to minimize waste of paper incutting successive blanks. This tab may also serve as a thumb grip foropening the holder.

The holder of Figs. 13, 14 and 15 is very similar to that shown in Figs.8, 9 and 10' except that the bottom flaps 89 and 90 are cut with anumber of serrated tabs 91 and 92, respectively, around their margins.The openings 93 and 94 are cut with'notches 95 and 96, respectively,disposed to'adrnit the tabs on fiaps 89'and 90 when the latter arefolded in. The flaps 89 and 90 lock in place inside the top rims of theuppermost cups and the central strap portion 97 lies between the two topcups and engagesunder the beads in the manner previously described.

In all of the holders here described the top and bottom walls areslitted substantially to their edges at the corners of the cuts definingthe openings. The slits part way down the side walls so as to free thecentral strap portion and allow it to be bent down to seal 'all aroundunder the head of the cups. For example, the openings 93 and 94 in theholder just described communicate with slit-s )8 and 99 which extendsubstantially to the edges of the top wall and part way down the sidewalls. Any of the holders which are intended for tapered articles mayalso have an extra fold line similar to fold line 32 in Fig. 4 so thatthe partly assembled holder may be folded flat for storage.

What is claimed is:

1. A holder, of resilient paperboard or similar material, for packaginga group of articles including an article having a recessed endsurrounding by a projecting rim, comprising: a body having top, bottom,and side walls; one of said walls overlying said end; a flap connectedto the wall overlying said end, seated against the inside of a portionof said rim and locking the article against displacement in onedirection; an opening in said overlying Wall adapted to admit saidportion of said rim, the holder having slits extending from said openingtransversely across said overlying wall and part way down the adjacentwalls; and a marginal portion of said overlying wall adjacent saidopening seating edgewise against the outside of said portion of said rimand locking the article against displacement in the opposite direction.

2. A holder, of resilient paperboard or similar material, for packaginga row of articles having recessed tops surrounded by projecting rimscomprising: a continuous band passing around the row, having a top walloverlying the tops of said articles; a pair of .flaps connected to saidtop wall, each of said flaps being seated against a portion of theinside of the rims of one of the end articles in the row and lockingsaid end articles against outward displacement in the holder; a pair ofopenings in said top wall adapted to admit a portion of the rims of theend articles; marginal portions of said top wall adjacent said openingsseating against the outside of a portion of the rims of said endarticles and locking the latter against inward displacement in theholder; and a pair of slots in the regions of the top wall overlyingsaid end articles for receiving a substantially flat member which, whenit is in place, tends to hold said flaps and said marginal portions intheir respective seated positions.

3. A holder as described in claim 1, said flap and open-. ing being bothformed by a single cut in the wall overlying said end.

4. A holder as described in claim 1, said flap comprising an extensionof said wall and being folded inwardly toward the same.

5. A holder, of resilient paperboard or similar material, for packaginga group of articles, including an article having a recessed endsurrounded by a projecting rim, comprising: a body having top, bottomand side walls; an opening in said top Wall receiving, a portion of saidrim, said top Wall having a marginal portion engaging the outside ofsaid rim to hold the article against displacement in one direction, saidholder having a pair of slits communicating with said opening andextending across said top wall, each slit extending part way down one ofsaid side walls; and a flap connected to said top wall, having a firsthinge line along its base and a second hinge line spaced from the first,the two hinge lines v 6 defining an intermediate portion, said flapbeing folded toward said end along said first hinge .line, and towardsaid marginal portion along said second hinge line and engaging theinside of said rim to lock said article against displacement in theopposite direction, and said intermediate portion'being wider than thearticle at its point of engagement with the rim, so as to jam inside therim.

6. A holder as described in claim 1, the flap having tabs around itsfree end, and the margin having notches to permit passage of the tabsthrough the opening.

7. A holder of resilient paperboard or similar material, for packaging arow of generally circular articles having recessed tops surrounded byprojecting rims, comprising: a continuous band passing around the row,hav ing a top Wall overlying sald tops and side walls connected to saidtop wall; and a pair of substantially semiwall, said cuts and slitsdefining a central strap having marginal portions engaging a portion ofthe outside of the rims of the end articles and locking the same againstinward displacement in the holder.

8. A holder, of resilient paperboard or similar material, for packing agroup of articles including an article having a recessed top and bottomsurrounded, respectively, by projecting top and bottom beads,comprising: a box having a top wall, a bottom wall, side Walls, an endwall an open end, the circular article being disposed in said open end;a flap attached to said top Wall engaging a region of the inside of saidtop bead and locking the article against outward displacement in theholder; an opening in said wall admitting a portion of said top bead;and a margin around said opening engaging a portion of said top bead andlocking the article against inward displacement in the holder, saidbottom wall having a. flap, and a margin similarly engaging said bottomhead.

9. A holder, of resilient paperboard or similar material, for packaginga group of articles including a. circular article having a recessed topsurrounded by a projecting rim, comprising: a continuousband havingiatop wall overlying said top, a flap attached to said top wall andextending therefrom, said flap being folded inward. and engaging aregion of the inside of said rim and locking the article against outwarddisplacement in the holder; and an opening in said top wall having astraight margin overlying said top, and a curved margin seated againstthe outside of a portion of said rim, and locking the article againstinward displacement in the holder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,379,240 Bashwiner May 24, 1921 1,457,361 Gilbert June 5, 19231,687,678 Mallory Oct. 16, 1928 2,015,222 Hinson Sept. 24, 19352,274,253 Howell Feb. 24, 1942 2,326,683 Ross Aug. 10, 1943 2,359,298Brogden Oct. 3, 1944' 2,678,767 Toensmeier May 18, 1954 2,687,248Freeman Aug. 24, 1954 2,738,055 Shanahan Mar. 13, 1956

